Antenna for a glass roof of a vehicle

Abstract

The disclosure relates to an antenna for a glass roof of a vehicle. The antenna can comprise a radiator for radiating electromagnetic waves. The radiator can be configured to be disposed between two glass layers of the glass roof. The radiator can be configured for feeding a signal to a receiver. The antenna can be substantially flat.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An antenna for embedded in a glass roof of a vehicle, wherein the antenna is substantially flat and is configured as a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) antenna, and wherein the antenna comprises:
 a radiator for radiating electromagnetic waves, wherein the radiator is:
 disposed between two glass layers of the glass roof, 
 configured for feeding a signal to a receiver, and 
 configured for radiating the electromagnetic waves in at least three frequency bands of GNSS; and 
   a reflector for reflecting the electromagnetic waves from the radiator, wherein the reflector is provided at a first defined distance from the radiator, wherein the first defined distance corresponds to at least a thickness of an interior glass layer of the two glass layers disposed between the radiator and the reflector, and wherein the reflector comprises a first reflector layer and a second reflector layer arranged substantially in parallel and separated by a second defined distance.   
     
     
         2 . The antenna according to  claim 1 , wherein the antenna is further configured as a high-precision global navigation satellite system (HP-GNSS) antenna. 
     
     
         3 . The antenna according to  claim 1 , wherein the radiator is configured for electromagnetic coupling or for physical connection at an edge region of the glass roof. 
     
     
         4 . The antenna according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the radiator comprises an outer segment, wherein the outer segment comprises a feed portion configured for feeding the signal to the receiver, or   wherein the radiator comprises an inner segment, wherein the inner segment comprises at least one of a T-shaped structure, an asymmetric structure, or a loop structure.   
     
     
         5 . The antenna according to  claim 1 , wherein the first defined distance between the radiator and the reflector is based further on an additional layer in between the radiator and the reflector, and wherein the additional layer comprises at least one of air or a low permittivity substrate. 
     
     
         6 . The antenna according to  claim 1 , wherein the reflector is provided in or at an interior coating layer of the glass roof. 
     
     
         7 . The antenna according to  claim 1 , wherein the first reflector layer is configured as a periodic structure. 
     
     
         8 . The antenna according to  claim 1 , wherein the second reflector layer is configured as a ground plate. 
     
     
         9 . The antenna according to  claim 1 , wherein the reflector comprises periodically repeated rectangular structures, and wherein each rectangular structure of the rectangular structures comprises slots dividing the rectangular structure into four interconnected sub-rectangular structures inside of each rectangular structure. 
     
     
         10 . The antenna according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the radiator or the reflector is at least partially optically transparent. 
     
     
         11 . The antenna according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the radiator or the reflector comprises a conductive thin film or a conductive mesh. 
     
     
         12 . The antenna according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the radiator or the reflector is provided on a substrate layer. 
     
     
         13 . An antenna system, comprising:
 an antenna embedded in a glass roof of a vehicle, wherein the antenna is substantially flat and is configured as a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) antenna, and wherein the antenna comprises:
 a radiator for radiating electromagnetic waves, wherein the radiator is:
 disposed between two glass layers of the glass roof, 
 configured for feeding a signal to a receiver, and 
 configured for radiating the electromagnetic waves in at least three frequency bands of GNSS; and 
 
 a reflector for reflecting the electromagnetic waves from the radiator, wherein the reflector is provided at a first defined distance from the radiator, wherein the first defined distance corresponds to at least a thickness of an interior glass layer of the two glass layers disposed between the radiator and the reflector, and wherein the reflector comprises a first reflector layer and a second reflector layer arranged substantially in parallel and separated by a second defined distance. 
   
     
     
         14 . The antenna system of  claim 13 , wherein the antenna is further configured as a high-precision global navigation satellite system (HP-GNSS) antenna. 
     
     
         15 . The antenna system of  claim 13 , wherein the radiator is configured for electromagnetic coupling or for physical connection at an edge region of the glass roof. 
     
     
         16 . The antenna system of  claim 13 ,
 wherein the radiator comprises an outer segment, wherein the outer segment comprises a feed portion configured for feeding the signal to the receiver, or   wherein the radiator comprises an inner segment, wherein the inner segment comprises at least one of a T-shaped structure, an asymmetric structure, or a loop structure.   
     
     
         17 . The antenna system of  claim 13 , wherein the first reflector layer is configured as a periodic structure, and wherein the second reflector layer is configured as a ground plate. 
     
     
         18 . A glass roof of a vehicle, comprising:
 an antenna embedded within the glass roof of the vehicle, wherein the antenna is substantially flat and is configured as a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) antenna, and wherein the antenna comprises:
 a radiator for radiating electromagnetic waves, wherein the radiator is:
 disposed between two glass layers of the glass roof, 
 configured for feeding a signal to a receiver, and 
 
 configured for radiating the electromagnetic waves in at least three frequency bands of GNSS; and 
 a reflector for reflecting the electromagnetic waves from the radiator, wherein the reflector is provided at a first defined distance from the radiator, wherein the first defined distance corresponds to at least a thickness of an interior glass layer of the two glass layers disposed between the radiator and the reflector, and wherein the reflector comprises a first reflector layer and a second reflector layer arranged substantially in parallel and separated by a second defined distance. 
   
     
     
         19 . The glass roof of  claim 18 , wherein the antenna is further configured as a high-precision global navigation satellite system (HP-GNSS) antenna. 
     
     
         20 . The glass roof of  claim 18 , wherein the first reflector layer is configured as a periodic structure, and wherein the second reflector layer is configured as a ground plate.